Yesterday Canada's Justice Minister, David Lametti, made an important announcement regarding changes in legislation for Medical Assistance in Dying. The amended legislation would include those who requested MAID because of mental illness, a source of concern and alarm for many, including mental health professionals and religious communities. The date for the changes has been deferred from March of 2023 to March of 2024.
The United Church has issued two statement regarding MAID and in the second from 2020 it is specific in saying "that ending suffering due to mental illness not be a category for MAID, and that the church advocate for increased mental health resources." I'm not sure what the United Church has done in terms of actual advocacy, but the intent is clear.
Mental health issues are also spiritual health issues and vigilance by religious entities is important as an act of justice and social conscience on behalf of the vulnerable. Responding to mental illness and providing sufficient support are spiritual issues. Ensuring that those with physical disabilities living in poverty don't consider MAID as the only option is certainly a justice issue in our society.
A couple of things come to mind in light of Minister Lametti's announcement. I am relieved by this "sober second thought" deferral. I do wonder, though, what will happen during the next year to invite ethicists, theologians, and mental health professionals into the conversation in a way that they haven't been up until now. There is an expert panel which has been involved in the decision-making but critics suggest that this isn't a broad enough consultation. We can't simply dither for another 12 months without serious work being done.
I also hope that this additional year will provide time to turn down some of the alarmist rhetoric which exists at the moment. These concerns are real and deserve attention. I have been exasperated, though, that some critics make it sound as though people are being hauled from their homes and euthanized. Guidelines do exist regarding MAID and individuals do have the right to choose.
Recently The Fifth Estate looked at a situation in which a young man who had lost his sight was going to choose MAID until his caring family intervened. The same episode also explored several disturbing incidents in which veterans were told that MAID might be an option for their mental health issues. As far as we know, none of them followed through and it was one Department of Veterans Affairs employee who was the culprit. There was so little balance in this episode and while we need to know about the shortcomings of the system as it exists, to me it was sensationalized by what wasn't said.
Last month an involved and respected member of our congregation chose MAID after living with cancer for several years. She wasn't going to get better and she decided she'd had enough. She had the support of her loving husband of more than fifty years and her family. The husband gave permission for our minister to speak about what had unfolded on a Sunday morning.
When we had our study group on the subject of Medical Assistance in Dying we explored the real concerns and we spent a session on Hospice and Palliative Care. We prayerfully put our discussion in the context of our relationship with the God of Justice and the God of Mercy. I hope the United Church can follow through on advocacy in the next year.
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